The Portland Society For Architecture released it's findings based on a study by a Scarborough consulting firm that specializes in climate and coastal hazards.

The study looked at the economic damage storm surge and flooding, combined with estimated sea level rise, could have on the Commercial Street area between the years 2050 and 2100.

They hope the results will prompt property owners, public officials, design professionals and the city of Portland to join in on a conversation about how to address this complex issue.

Portland Society For Architecture Vice President Alan Kuniholm said, "It is not an issue that is simply something unique to Portland ...Boston just got through completing a very extensive study, New York City did in the wake of Sandy."

Using mid-level estimates of a 2-foot sea level rise in 2050 and four feet by 2100, the study predicts there would be $111 million in cumulative damage to the value of Commercial Street buildings if there were to be any major "100 year" storms.

A PORTLAND GROUP IS WORKING TO START A CONVERSATION ABOUT A PREDICTED RISE IN SEA LEVELS - AND ITS POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE CITY OF PORTLAND. THE PORTLAND SOCIETY FOR ARCHITECTURE RELEASED IT'S FINDINGS BASED ON A STUDY BY A SCARBOROUGH CONSULTING FIRM WHICH SPECIALIZES IN CLIMATE AND COASTAL HAZARDS. THE STUDY LOOKED AT THE ECONOMIC DAMAGE STORM SURGE AND FLOODING, COMBINED WITH ESTIMATED SEA LEVEL RISE, COULD HAVE ON THE COMMERCIAL STREET AREA BETWEEN THE YEARS 2- THOUSAND 50, AND 21- HUNDRED THEY HOPE THE RESULTS WILL PROMPT PROPERTY OWNERS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, DESIGN PROFESSIONALS AND THE CITY OF PORTLAND TO JOIN IN ON A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS THIS COMPLEX ISSUE. 2241-2246 "what type of capital investments to make, or what type of changes in planning that might be needed" It is not an issue that is simply something unique to portland...boston just got through completing a very extensive study, new york city did in the wake of sandy." SO HERE IS WHAT THE STUDY FOUND... USING MID-LEVEL ESTIMATES OF A TWO- FOOT SEA LEVEL RISE IN 2050 AND FOUR- FEET BY 21-HUNDRED FROM ANY áMAJOR - 1-HUNDRED YEAR STORMSá IN THAT TIME, THE STUDY PREDICTS 111- MILLION DOLLARS IN CUMULATIVE DAMAGE TO THE VALUE OF COMMERCIAL STREET BUILDINGS.